Kite



0t.25,1938. Him/N 2,134,282

KITE

' Filed Jan. 17, 1938 FIG. 3

INVENTR4 f mN Patented Oct. 25, 1938 UNITED STATES KITE Harry J. Irvin, Dayton, Ohio ApplicationJanuary 17, 1938 Serial No. 185,384 N y5 Claimawl. 244-;53)

This invention. relates to akite and more particularly to aA ki-te that willrise in a slight Wind.

An object of this invention is to -'provide an elevator for a kite.

Another object of this invention 'is to provide a kite that rises readily, that is cheap, dependable and efficient.

Another object of rthis invention is to provide means for dividing an air current, deecting some of the air current downwardly, the force caused by the deected air current being utilized to lift the kite, the downwardly projected stream of air current cooperating with the remainder of the air current to form al vacuum, which vacuum is utilized to exert a lifting force upon the kite.

Another object of this invention is to provide a kite with sufcient lifting power to permit the use of cheaper materials, even though these materials are heavier than conventional materials now used.

Other objects andadvantages reside in the construction of parts, the `combination thereof and the mode of operation, as will become more apparent from the following description.

' in the drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the kite shown in ascending position.

Figure 2 is a side elevational View ofthe kite in readiness for ascension.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary end View of the frame structure showing parts in section. 'I

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 5.

Figure -5 is another fragmentary sectional View taken substantially on the line 5 5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an end view of the kite lthat has been folded for packing, for shipping or storage.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the bracket removed, shown in the direction of the arrow 'I in Figure 3. v

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of an end of the bracket shown in Figure 7.

Various attempts have been made in the past to produce a kite that will ascend in a slight wind. For example, louvers have been rcut into the face of the kite. However, none ofthese have, as far as known, provided an attachment for a kite wherein a vacuum is created, tending to lift the kite, other than whatever Vacuum maybe found on the lee side of the kite as a whole.

The kite shown herein is provided with an opening in the main body of the kite, permitti-ng the passage of a current of air. rThis opening may be centrally located, or located in any other suitable place in the kite, depending entirelyupon the design ofv the kite and its use. The current of air owing through this opening is divided by a suitable elevator, angularly disposed, having the tail end directed downwardly. This elevator projects the lower half of the air current downwardly, permitting the upper half of the air current to flow unrestricted. It is a well known phenomenon in aerodynamics, that two air currents diverging will create a vacuum. By direct' ing the elevator so as to have the rear portion extend downwardly, the vacuum created by the diverging air currents exerts a lifting force Yupon the kite which permitsv the kite to rise. This will be more fully seen when the preferred embodiment is described.

Referring to the drawing, the reference numerals I0 and I2 indicate a pair of parallel transversely disposed frame members of wood arranged in spaced relation from each other and held in positiony by a pair of brackets I'II and a spanning member I6. Each of the brackets I4 is provided with inwardly projecting ears I4a, provided with reentrant teeth IIIZJ` extending over and into engagement with suitable notches 20 in thetransverse members III and I2. Instead of extending intothe notches, the teeth Mb may embed themselves in the wood of the transverse members I 0 and I2. `Ears I4c integral with the bracket overlie the sides of the transverse mem-Y bers I0 and I2. The bracket I4 is provided with a suitable aperture Md, the function of which will be described more fully later.

The spanning member I6 is provided with loops I6a enclosing the frame members I0 and I2 near their centers.` This spanning'member I6 is also provided witha longitudinal channel 22 enclosed by the reentrant anges I6b. Avvertically disposed rib member 24 extends throughthe channel 22. The rib member 24 may be removably mounted, so that it may slide freely through the channel 22.

` The ends of the transverse member I0 are connected by a suitable cord, string or other supporting member 26, to the end of member v21I. The end of member 24 is preferably provided with a slot or groove in which the cord 26 is seated. The cord 26 forms two legs of a triangle, the base of which is formed by the transversememberl Il).v

This triangleis covered by paper'3Il, fabric or other suitable material.

A cord 28 cooperates with the transverse member I2 to form a downwardly projecting triangle coveredby suitable paper 32, fabric or the like. 'I'he apex 28e formed by the cord 28 is arranged in spaced relation from the lowerv end `of member 24. This apex is preferably attached to a slot in the end of member 24 by a suitable rubber band or other suitable string 34. The two triangles constitute the main wind engaging body of the kite. The space between members I and I2 forms an open slot or opening that is not covered with paper, the formation of which will now be described.

An elevator 4I) supported upon the pair of brackets 42 pivotally mounted in the end brackets I4 extends across the opening found between members I0 and I2. As may be seen by referring to Figure 2, the elevator 40 has a leading edge disposed in the center of the opening and the rear edge directly downwardly, so as to deflect.,

the lower half of the current passing through the opening between members I0 and I2. The upper half of the current continues in a straightpath. As is well known to those skilled in aerodynamics, two diverging currents of air create a vacuum.

Referring to Figure 2, this vacuum is created in the area indicated by the referencecharacter 44 directly above the elevator1 4 0 This vacuum results in a differential in air pressure on the opposite sides of the elevator 40, the air pressure being greater on the under side than on the -upper side. This differential in air pressure exerts a lifting force upon the kite, so that the elevator accelerates and aids the ascension of the kite, even though the wind velocity is quitenlow. The elevator is held in proper inclination by a pair of brackets 45 pivotally attached by suitable ears 48 to the spanning member I6. The bracket members 46 terminate in hooked portions 5I) seated in a pair of notches in the rearwardly extending edge of the elevator, the hooked portions 5I! holding the elevator Vin position.

The harness for the kite may consist of a plurality of cords 52 extending from the apices of the kite to a central point 54, connected to a suitable cord 56. In order to prevent the kite from orientation, a suitable tail 6D is preferably used, so as to provide a ballast.

For the purpose o f shipping, storage or packing, this kite assembly maybe folded up into compact formation, as shown in Figure 6.` This is accomplished by releasing the retaining cord or band 34 so asto release the string 28 permitting the vertical rib 2 4 to be withdrawn or slid out of the channel-in the spanning member I6, thereby releasing the tension upon cord 25 and disengaging the same. The triangular portions 30 and 32 may then be folded, as shown in Figure 6. The elevator 40 is preferably released from the brackets 45 and folded into the position shown in Figure 6. Rib 24 may be inserted in parallel relation4 to members I0 and I2, so that the folded assembly occupies a small compact space. Whenever itis desired to use the kite the triangular portions'BU and 32 may be extended, Ythe rib 24 inserted and attached tothe strings 26 and 28 and the harness, including members 52 and 55. By properly assembling, the kite is again in readiness for ascension.

The elevation of the elevator 4Q maybe selected to suit the demands of the particular kite. vThis may be influenced by the weight of the kite, the size of the elevator and the velocity of the wind, together with the angular position the harness bears to the kite, all of whichwill influence the rate of speed at which thekite ascends and the height to which it will rise.

In order to provide stability, it may in `some cases be desirableto ybow the longitudinal rib 24 and the transversev ribs l0 and,.l,2, so as to present a convex surface as viewed from the harness side of the kite. Instead of the slot being rectangular, this slot could be tapered to both ends, so as to eliminate the brackets I4, the ends of the transverse members III and I2 being fastened together and suitably separated near the center of the kite. Although the preferred modification of the device has been described, it will be understood that Withinthe purview of this invention various c hanges may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement of parts which generally stated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, in the novel parts, combination of parts and mode of operation, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

Having' thus described my invention, I claim: 1. Ina kite having a body portion provided with an opening, a horizontally disposed elevator extending atan angle with respect to the main surface of thel kite, the leading edge of the elevator being centrally disposed with respect to the opening, the rear edge of the elevator projecting downwardly so as to deflect the lower half of the air current downwardly thereby creating a vacuum above the elevator so as to provide a differential in air pressureon the two sides of the elevator thereby lifting the kite.

2. In a kite, the combination including a longitudinal rib, a pair of parallel members transversely disposed with respect to the rib, brackets for supporting the parallel members in xed spaced relation from each other, means for interconnecting the ends of said parallel membersto the ends ofthe rib, sheet vmaterial supported upon the parallel members and said interconnecting means, the space between said parallel members being open, and anelevator extending across the opening between said parallel members and intersecting the same, said elevator forming an acute angle with the plane of the sheet material and disposed to deflect the lower portion of the air current passing through the opening downwardlyso as to create a vacuum above the elevator so that the differential of pressures on the OPDOSte sides of the elevator aids the kite in ascending.

3. In a kite, the combination including a longitudinal rib, means transversely disposed with respectto the rib and removably attached thereto, said means including a pair of spanning members, covering means-extending on each side of lsaid transversely disposed means and supported by theends of said longitudinal rib, said covering means leaving a space vacant between said transversely disposed spanning members to permit a current of air to flow therethrough, an elevator dividing said air current, said elevator directing the `lower portion of the air current downwardly, said downwardly projected air current cooperatingwith the remainder of the air current to form a vacuum above said elevator, and means for holding said elevator in angular relation with respect to the plane of the kite.

4. In alrite, the combination including a longitudinal rib,.a pair of spanning members transverselydisposed with respect to the longitudinal rib, means for holding said transversely disposed members in fixed spaced relation from veach other and slidably engaging said longitudinal rib, coveringmeans extending upwardly fromv the upper spanning member to the upper end of the longitudinal rib, and covering 1 means covering the space vbelow the lower spanning member to the lower end of the longitudinal rib, the space between said spanning members being vacant permitting a current of air to ow therethrough, a current deflector intersecting the current of air flowing through the vacant space so as to deflect the lower portion of the air current downwardly, said deector being supported by said means and held in angular relation thereto, the deflected portion of the current cooperating with the undef lected portion to form a vacuum above said delector to thereby Aaid the ascension of the kite.

5. In a kite, the combination including a longitudinal rib, a pair of spanning members transversely disposed with respect to the longitudinal rib, means for holding said transversely disposed members in fixed spaced relation from each other and slidably engaging said longitudinal rib, covering means extending upwardly from the upper spanning member to the upper end of the longitudinal rib, and covering means covering the space below the lower spanning member to the lower end of the longitudinal rib, the space between said spanning members being vacant permitting a current of air to flow therethrough, a pivotally mounted deflector extending across the vacant space, means for releasably holding the deflector in angular relation with respect to the main surface of the kite so as to cause the deflector to deiiect the lower portion of the air current downwardly but permitting the upper portion of the air current to pass freely through the vacant space, the deflected air current cooperating with the undeected air current'to form a vacuuml above the deflector aiding the ascension of the kite.

HARRY J. IRVIN. 

